MEXICO CITY – A bomb exploded on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM), damaging the front entrance and breaking several windows.

No individual or group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the institution said.

The blast occurred about 1:50 am at the main entrance of the CEM headquarters near the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe in northern Mexico City, the institution added.

CEM general secretary Alfonso Miranda Guardiola said at a press conference that no warning was given prior to the explosion and no call had been received from anyone claiming responsibility for the blast.

“We had no warning beforehand and nobody has taken responsibility for this attack. We don’t know if there is a reason why someone placed the bomb,” said Miranda, adding that he hoped the explosion would be “the first and last” one at the CEM.

He confirmed that the blast broke the windows of the main entrance doorway and blew it open, although no further material damage – and, more importantly, no victims – resulted.

He said that, in reviewing security videos, authorities could see a person place a bag at the door of the CEM and light a cigarette, which he – or she – then placed into the same bag and leave the scene, shortly after which the explosion occurred.

Miranda said that the appropriate authorities had been informed of the explosion and that both capital and national authorities were launching investigations to track down the perpetrators.

He also issued a call for “calm and the construction of peace” and reiterated that the CEM’s stance is to join different sectors in the country to rebuild the social fabric.

Enter your email address to subscribe to free headlines (and great cartoons so every email has a happy ending!) from the Latin American Herald Tribune: